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  Discussion on Foaling Founder
Author Message
New Member:
Morg1

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 26, 2005 - 9:08 pm:

I have a mare that foundered after her third foal with previous owners. I bred her last year and she just foaled last week. It took her 5 1/2 hours to shed her placenta. Later, that morning the vet gave her Penicillin, Banamine, Oxytocin, and Tetanus Antitoxin. She's doing fine now. I'm wondering if it is safe to continue breeding her or am I gambling her health everytime I breed her. How likely is it that she'll founder again even with preventative treatment? She is a beautiful mare with an exceptional dispostion and I would love to have a foal out of her. (By the way we had to put this one down.) I would appreciate your opinion on this subject.

Thanks,
Karen
Member:
Eoeo

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 26, 2005 - 10:13 pm:

If they retain the placenta, they have a bigger chance of foundering. Even though we flushed, gave antibiotics, banamine, etc. we had one of our very best mares founder and she only retained the placenta about 3 hours. We have bred her many times since, she has passed the placenta in less than an hour every time and she has had no more founder issues. We are diligent that she pass her placenta in a short time. EO
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 27, 2005 - 7:02 am:

As LKR suggests the cause of the founder is important in determining the chance of recurrence, was it felt the placenta was the cause? When they founder this quickly either the placenta was already infected at birth or there are other problems likely to be going on.
DrO
New Member:
Morg1

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 27, 2005 - 9:11 am:

DrO,

I'm not sure about the cause. The mare's previous owner is deceased (my Grandpa). He wasn't as diligent in his care of horses as I am. He never witnessed a foaling and I'm sure that how long a mare retained her placenta was not noted. All I know is that the vet was called about a week after that 3rd foaling because she had discharge. I'm assuming it wasn't regular foaling heat. As I remember from second hand knowledge (and my grandma, god love her, can really mess up a retelling) told me that the mare had an infection. That summer when I visited she was really sore on her feet. I'm really just assuming that the foundering was from the foaling. It seemed too much of a coincidence. So I guess that you can conclude that what ever caused her infection is unknown, but vetinary care earlier probably would have prevented a the infection and foundering.

This time, my vet told me that the placenta looked really good, as she had shed it before the vet arrived. She did not feel that she needed anymore treatment than what was given. I have not witnessed any discharge beyond the same day she foaled.

Thank you,
Karen
New Member:
Morg1

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 27, 2005 - 9:16 am:

Another thing her foundering was mild she can be rode barefoot, but I have shoes put on her for my piece of mind. Thanks, Karen
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 - 7:42 am:

Since she had this foal without foundering and sound enough to be ridden barefoot, I would guess that pregnancy is not a big risk.
DrO
New Member:
Morg1

Posted on Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 - 9:03 am:

Thanks DrO
Would you recommend that I have Oxytocin on hand to give her after she foals to help her release the placenta before I have the vet out?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Apr 29, 2005 - 7:38 am:

It is stable, easily administered, but can cause excessive cramping if not used carefully so discuss this possibility with your vet.
DrO
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